Numbers

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 11: Nancy Gregory, hugs her sons Carl, left, and Gregory as they pay their respects to her husband firefighter Ken Kumpel at the National 9/11 Memorial during the tenth anniversary ceremonies of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center site, September 11, 2011 in New York City. New York City and the nation are commemorating the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people after two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia and one crash landed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

So much hurt. Yet, reverence. Preserving dignity, honor. Never to forget.

28, 27, 61, 42, 45, 48, 55, 23, 25, 28…

In bed, TV on. Weeping for those I had never met. Feels like family though. A pattern—ten names read, voices cracking, music to soothe, silence.

44, 54, 24, 26, 58, 70, 63, 41, 49…

Numbers. Not random. Crawling across the screen—ages of those taken. 21, 36, 28, 42. Young and not so young. 78, 60, 19, 37, 49. None deserved to go; none here today in sadness deserving such pain.

1

For a brief stunning moment on this 10th anniversary, what we are. A resolute number. Through the tears, hope.

Jordan Rich

Jordan Rich is the host of Connoisseurs Corner and New England Weekend on WBZ NewsRadio. Jordan has been a man about town in Boston for many years and tirelessly continues to host countless charitable events. He is also one of the busiest masters...